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Tempers Flare Over Ill-Tempered Sword Remarks

Posted by timothy on from the say-is-that-edge-sharp dept.

msaulters writes "The Austin American Statesman is reporting on Daniel Watson, a Hays County swordsmith who is suing a group of San Francisco-based techies, charging that they extorted him by posting negative comments regarding his sword-making business on the discussion forums they host and then offering to clamp down on such comments if he bought advertising with them. On the one hand, this sounds very chilling, as the defendants, Sword Forum International, are very well-known and respected in the world of sword-making, and abuse of that position would be very un-cool. On the other hand, they make some valid points in the article, and historically, the ability to express your opinions freely online is one aspect of the internet that arguably should never be curtailed."

11 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. Libel by Picass0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If the site's staff are expressing an opinion, it is protected speech. It they are attempting to pass off BS as fact and damaging the reputation of the swordmaker, it's libel. He can sue them and he should win. You have the freedom to say anything you want in America, but that doesn't mean there aren't consequences if you're a liar.

    "I think you suck" is an opinion.

    "You suck and here's a bunch of untrue claims about you" is libel.

    There are existing laws that can be enforced if any have been broken. There is no need for news laws, or any reason for this to have a chilling effect on web sites.

  2. Blackmail, Libel by stefanlasiewski · · Score: 4, Funny

    then offering to clamp down on such comments if he bought advertising with them.

    On the other hand, they make some valid points in the article, and historically, the ability to express your opinions freely online is one aspect of the internet that arguably should never be curtailed."

    Is Blackmail or Libel protected speech?

    --
    "Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
  3. crux of the matter by mattsucks · · Score: 4, Insightful

    His [Watson's] lawsuit alleges that Ko attempted extortion by offering to have the moderators of his online discussions clamp down on negative comments about Angel Sword if Watson bought advertising.

    The whole suit, both sides, is hooey except for this allegation. If this is true, it is extortion. "We will trash you in a public forum unless you pay us money." If not, the judge should open up his can of whup ass and let the complainant have it.

    IANAL, IMHO, YMMV, RTFM, ETC

    1. Re:crux of the matter by knobmaker · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's extortion if the complainant has any proof. If not, it's just more BS. I have personal experience with this phenom, on a much smaller scale.

      I wrote a weekly computer column for the local paper for a couple of years. One summer day I woke up and the air conditioner wasn't cooling. I called a company that advertised widely, who sent out a guy right away. He checked my system, added refrigerant (he said) and told me the whole system was broken and needed replacing. Then he handed me brochures detailing his overpriced systems and financing option, charged me $70.00, and away he went.

      I always get second opinions before spending any substantial amounts of money. The next guy came by, added refrigerant, and shazamm, the system was working again.

      I asked the first company for my money back, and they wouldn't give it back, even though I'd caught them red-handed. So I wrote a column about how a fictitious company, let's call them Airconditioning Ripoff Specialists, Inc. had ripped me off, and what I could do online to make sure that fewer members of my community got ripped off, if I chose to take it that far. After the column appeared, the real company complained to my editor that I'd threatened to expose them in my column if they wouldn't give me my money back.

      I had never mentioned to them that I was a columnist, and they didn't complain until after the column appeared. Furthermore, they weren't identified in the column, so the whole thing made no sense.

      I don't know the particulars, but it's easy to allege extortion. I suspect there's no proof, or criminal charges would have been brought, not a civil suit.

  4. so the website is mightier than the sword? by Sevn · · Score: 5, Funny

    someone was going to say it

    --
    For every annoying gentoo user, are three even more annoying anti-gentoo crybabies. Take Yosh from #Gimp for example.
  5. Magic? by IshanCaspian · · Score: 4, Insightful
    "I believe in science. He believes in magic," Ko said. "He believes that he can breathe on his blade and impart his spirit."


    Daniel Watson's web site can be found at http://www.angelsword.com/ . After looking through the site carefully, I found no mention of "magic." Although the man may have some unusual beliefs about his work, it is clear from looking at his photo gallery that he is an amazing swordsmith.

    I do not doubt the fact that the spreading of lies to damage another's reputation is libel, and blackmailing a fine craftsman like Mr. Watson is downright slimy. Take a look at his stuff, and if you're as impressed as I am, tell the guy in the cube next to ya. You don't have to wait for some court to award damages to get this problem solved....in a time when government seems unstoppable remember that all of the machinery of justice and corruption merely utilize a tiny fragment of the collective will of the apathy of our civilization.
    --

    But there is another kind of evil that we must fear most... and that is the indifference of good men.
  6. usually by falsification · · Score: 3, Funny

    In my experience, it's usually a bad idea to piss off somebody with a sword.

  7. I have a Daniel Watson sword by LordNimon · · Score: 3, Informative
    It wasn't cheap ($1,500), but it's an excellent piece of workmanship. I haven't figured out how to do it myself, but Daniel (or any of his staff members) can shave (that's right, shave) a 3x5 index card with my sword.

    Daniel is a cool guy, and as far as I'm concerned, anyone who would say bad things about his work is just a complete asshole. If you want to meet Daniel, just go to any major Texas renaissance festival.

    --
    And the men who hold high places must be the ones who start
    To mold a new reality... closer to the heart
  8. He sells a sword called "Bringer of Tears" by HotNeedleOfInquiry · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think I have a new name for my laptop.

    --
    "Eve of Destruction", it's not just for old hippies anymore...
  9. Good lord, no wonder they removed it. by Sevn · · Score: 3, Funny

    I wonder if tinfoil hats help you channel the
    natural energy your body has as well as their
    swords do. That page had me singing the highlander
    theme song and saying "there can be only one!" in
    a chrisopher lambertesque voice.

    --
    For every annoying gentoo user, are three even more annoying anti-gentoo crybabies. Take Yosh from #Gimp for example.
  10. "Living Steel" - yeah, right by Animats · · Score: 4, Informative
    • Living Steel also gathers, focuses and transmits a low frequency electromagnetic energy similar to that which our bodies run on, similar perhaps to the way in which a ruby focuses a laser. This is a measurable phenomenon that can also be felt by the human body. In ancient times there was no explanation for this other than magic. It is still magic today.

    Yeah, right.

    Back in my SCA days, one local sword maker described how he did it. He started with blanks intended for use as auto leaf springs. After suitable grinding, he had them heat treated. This was Cleveland when it had steel mills. He went to a heat treating shop, handed over the sword blade, said "ASTM Process 50, 4 hours". They said "It'll be ready Thursday". The result was far better than anything in period; you could cut through logs with those blades without damaging them.